The story

Many people in Ghana and Uganda rely on growing vegetables and flowers for income. Two projects, implemented by CABI, have helped both countries massively reduce harmful pests in their produce, enabling them to boost their trade – and, in one case, overcome a trade ban – with the EU. 

The EU has high sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards and turns away produce containing pests. In 2013, it made 36 interceptions of Ugandan flowers and, in 2014, 330 interceptions of Ghanaian fruit and vegetables – all due to pests. 

In Ghana, smallholders rely on fruit and vegetable trade for income. At nearly 40% of GDP, agriculture is the largest sector of Ghana’s economy. In Uganda, flowers are a profitable business. The sector achieves exports of around US$30m annually. 

However, smallholders and growers in Ghana and Uganda face barriers to selling fruit, vegetables and flowers due to plant pests. Increasing pest management knowledge is essential for boosting sales. 

From 2012 to 2021, CABI led and partnered on projects in Ghana and Uganda. The projects shared CABI’s expertise in crop health and value chains and trade. They strengthened smallholders and growers’ ability to improve the quality of their produce and helped those working along the value chain to meet international market standards to increase sales. 

In 2021, CABI reported on the Ghana project’s impact. It helped to reduce interceptions to only 11 in 2020. The project played an important role in lifting a European Commission ban of Ghana’s produce in 2018. This enabled exports worth US$15m to start again. 

Last year, CABI conducted an evaluation of the Uganda floriculture project. The report revealed interceptions had been reduced to zero in 2018. Knowledge shared with staff on the flower farms was instrumental. By tackling pests, both Ghana and Uganda have grown their trade with the EU.